Question : INTER STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTES .

(a) whether the Government propose to nationalise all inter-state rivers in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the steps being taken by the Government for permanent solution of inter-state river water disputes ?

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (DR. C. P. THAKUR )
(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.255 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 15.12.1999 INTER-STATE RIVER DISPUTES.

(a)-(c): Presently, the Govt. has no proposal to nationalise the inter-state rivers in the country. As per Entry-17 of the List-II of the 7th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, `Water, that is to say water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power subject to the provisions of Entry-56 of List-I`, is a State subject. However, as per Entry-56 of List-I(i.e. Union List), the Union Government has the power of regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys to the extent to which such regulation and development under the control of the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest. Further, under Article-262(i), Parliament may by law, provide for adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of waters in any Inter-State river or river valleys. Accordingly, under Article 262 of the Constitution, the Government of India has enacted Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of Inter-State rivers and river valleys. In addition, Ministry of Water Resources has constituted a Standing Committee on Inter-State Issues under the chairmanship of the Union Minister of Water Resources. One of the functions of the Standing Committee, is to recommend the measures to be taken to resolve the inter-state issues referred to by the states to Union Ministry of Water Resources.